May 28, 2009 10:43

Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan has tumour removed

Band will return to gigging duty next month

Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan is to resume touring next month after having a tumour successfully removed.

The band's 'Tour Of The Universe' will start again in Leipzig, Germany on June 8.

The electronic pioneers were forced to cancel a raft of shows after Gahan was taken ill in Athens earlier this month.

It has now emerged that after suffering a severe bout of gastroenteritis, Gahan had further tests which revealed a low-grade malignant tumour in his bladder.

It has been successfully removed, but the singer has been ordered to rest up until the Leipzig date.

The band had been set to play the first of two Leipzig shows on June 7, although the first date has been cancelled. Fans can exchange tickets for those valid for June 8 or the band's June 10 Berlin show.

The scheduled show at the London O2 Arena (May 30), has been postponed, with a new date set to be announced soon. The June 2 show at the Hamburg HSH Nordbank Arena will now take place on July 1.

The Dusseldorf LTU Arena shows (June 4 and 5) will also be rescheduled, although new dates have not been revealed yet. The Bergen show (July 2) has been rescheduled to January 28 next year.

The band's previously-scheduled appearance at the Pinkpopp Festival in Landgraaf (May 31) has been cancelled.

See the band's official website, Depechemode.com, for more details of the cancellations and reschedulings.

A statement from the band read: "Dave Gahan thanks fans for their support, understanding and patience. Depeche Mode deeply regret any problems or inconveniences the cancellations and postponements may have caused."